Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead to Premier New Classical Work

Water, a composition written by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood for the Australian Chamber Orchestra will premiere live in Australia in 2014.

Greenwood workshopped Water at the orchestra’s Sydney studio at the conclusion of the 2012 Radiohead Australian tour. The result is something totally different from Greenwood’s solo works or Radiohead material.

I’m so used to closely recorded sounds, it’s always a jolt to realise that the ‘in the room’ sound of an orchestra is a different animal from a recording,” Greenwood says.

When he left Australia, Greenwood travelled to India and absorbed more influences for Water. “The space in Indian classical music and the textures were a big influence on the commission,” he says.

Greenwood made a surprise appearance with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at The Standard in Sydney last December (2012) when he was working with the Orchestra on the new music.